Kings Theatre Restoration Receives Platinum Reconstruction Award From Building Design+Construction Magazine

Building Design+Construction magazine recognized the King’s Theatre restoration project with a Platinum Reconstruction Award.

The project is also featured in Auditoria’s 2016 publication. Learn about the extensive renovation of this “Wonder Theater” of NYC. “After years of standing dormant, a project to restore a famed New York theater focused on rejuvenating public areas and facilities in a bid to return the iconic venue to its former glory.”

“In 2008, the Bloomberg administration put together a last-ditch effort to save the theater from the wrecking ball. The sole bidder, Houston-based ACE Theatrical Group, partnered with Goldman Sachs and borough, city, state and federal entities, and restoration began in January 2013.

The results are breathtaking. The seats – 3,250 of them, 400 fewer than the original, making it the third largest full-time arts venue in the city – have been reupholstered and the aisles have been widened.

The original American-walnut paneling has been refinished in the soaring 70-foot lobby, which features pink marble stairs and high curved ceilings. Where architectural details like ornate plaster walls, sconces or chandeliers were missing, they’ve been artfully reproduced.  “Some of the chandeliers were too high for the vandals to get to, and I defy anyone to figure out which are the originals and which are reproductions,” says ACE chief David Anderson. “We had reproductions of the original carpeting printed from old black-and-white photographs, using surviving fragments to figure out the colors.”
Curbed New York tells the story of this amazing restoration project in their photo essay ‘Behold, Brooklyn’s Magnificently Restored Kings Theatre‘  Don’t miss Max Touhey’s photographs of the restored interior: “…when the restoration began, project architects Martinez + Johnson Architecture and Evergreene Architectural Arts stepped into a giant mess of a place. EverGreene, a firm that specializes in historically accurate renovations, went so far as to analyze old photographs under microscopes to determine the exact right paint colors for the theater…”
Enjoy learning more about this great effort!
ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres. Learn more about historic theatres on our website at historictheatres.org
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